On Monday, three commercial jet planes flying to Haiti were shot at, leading the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to announce a 30-day ban on U.S. airlines operating flights to Haiti on Tuesday.
The FAA stated in its notification that due to “continuing safety instability-related flight safety risks,” U.S. airlines are prohibited from operating flights within Haitian territory and airspace below 10,000 feet (3,048 meters).
American Airlines announced on Tuesday that its flight was the third U.S. airline to be shot at in Haiti. Flight 819, which arrived from Port-au-Prince, Haiti, to Miami, Florida in the United States, had external bullet damage detected during a flight inspection.
The airline mentioned that it will suspend its services to Haiti until February 12, 2025. They are closely collaborating with all relevant departments to investigate the incident.
On Monday, a Spirit Airlines flight destined for the Haitian capital was the first U.S. aircraft to be shot at, forcing the flight to change destination and divert to the nearby Dominican Republic.
Meanwhile, a JetBlue Airways flight returning from Port-au-Prince to New York discovered gunshot damage on its fuselage upon arrival.
Spirit Airlines stated that after landing in Santiago, in the north of the Dominican Republic, the aircraft was found significantly damaged and had to be grounded for repairs. The incident resulted in an injured flight attendant, but no passengers were harmed.
The FBI has reportedly joined the investigation.
Félix- Émile pledged to improve the country’s internal security on his inauguration day.
Reports indicate that due to deteriorating security conditions in Haiti, armed gangs in the capital have recently started shooting at aircraft. Last month, a United Nations helicopter encountered a shooting incident in the sky over Port-au-Prince.